Pride Month Triumph: AboitizPower's Inclusive March & Policy Launch

Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower), the country’s leading energy company, actively participated in the Pride Festival at the iconic Quezon Memorial Circle as it reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusivity.

Photo Insert: AboitizPower team members proudly celebrate alongside a diverse array of organizations and businesses, creating a vibrant and united march through the streets of Quezon City, as they joyfully commemorate the spirit of Pride Month.

Employees from AboitizPower joined forces with over 110,000 attendees to raise awareness, foster respect, and celebrate the unique individuality of the LGBTQ+ community. Through their participation, the company showcased its dedication to cultivating a workplace culture rooted in excellence and high performance.

The Pride Festival, organized by Pride PH, the largest national Pride network of Philippine LGBTQIA+ organizations and individuals, featured a spectacular Pride March and a dynamic Pride Expo, where organizations, businesses, and sponsors came together to demonstrate their support.

Prior to the march, AboitizPower hosted the thought-provoking "#BetterTogether: Uniting Perspectives, Empowering Change" forum at their BGC office. The Better Together Series, a collection of insightful talks, aims to enhance the knowledge and appreciation of AboitizPower team members regarding sustainability concepts and the challenges related to environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG).

During the event, MaLu A. Inofre, Chief Human Resources Officer of AboitizPower, proudly announced the release of the company's groundbreaking Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) policy, set to take effect on June 26, 2023

“This policy reflects our drive to create a more inclusive and equitable workplace where diversity thrives, equity is upheld, and everyone feels a sense of belonging,” Inofre said in her inspiring speech.

Inofre also highlighted how the policy provides clear guidelines, attracts top talent, boosts employee engagement, fuels innovation, strengthens customer relations, and aligns seamlessly with the company's broader social responsibility.

AboitizPower's DEIB policy recognizes and embraces the unique qualities of each team member, including their physical characteristics, talents, perspectives, sexual orientation and preference, marital status, socio-economic standing, and experiences, among others.

Rather than allowing these differences to create division, the company acknowledges the incredible potential of a workforce that respects and empowers every individual, fostering a culture of unity.

"We firmly believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is integral to our purpose of driving change for a better world," the policy states proudly.

During the forum, Manny Rubio, President and CEO of AboitizPower, encouraged attendees to cultivate an environment where everyone feels safe, respected, and empowered to bring their best selves to work.

“Let’s continue to foster an environment where everyone feels safe, respected, and empowered to bring their A-game. Embrace empathy, actively listen, and challenge biases that hinder progress,” Rubio remarked during the forum. He emphasized the importance of embracing empathy, actively listening, and challenging biases that hinder progress.

Distinguished guest speakers at the event shared their personal stories of overcoming biases and prejudices, emphasizing the significance of allyship within the LGBTQIA+ community.

RJ Barrete, program manager for the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (PBCWE), shared a powerful vision of a workplace while emphasizing that cultural change is not merely an inspirational goal but an observable transformation within organizations.

“Aside from having a workplace that accommodates all, regardless of gender and sexual orientation, I dream of a workplace wherein everyone can thrive and be given equal opportunities,” amplified Barrete.

Chris Eugenio, a board trustee for the local non-profit organization Philippine Financial & Inter-Industry Pride, highlighted the connection between allyship and core Filipino values such as fellowship, unity, community, friendship, and family.

“Allyship has actual roots to our Filipino core values of pakikipagkapwa tao (fellowship), pagkakaisa (unity), bayanihan (sense of community), pagkakaibigan (friendship), and pamilya (family). Allyship appeals to our common humanity. It appeals to our core goodness and graciousness that drives us to be there for one another despite our differences,” Eugenio highlighted.

Eugenio also commended AboitizPower for taking the proactive step of codifying their DEIB policy and acknowledged the commitment from the company's leadership, while encouraging them to enjoy the journey of becoming a more inclusive organization.

As AboitizPower celebrates Pride Month, the company stands as a beacon of support, fostering an inclusive environment where diversity flourishes, equality prevails, and everyone feels a genuine sense of belonging.

Through their Pride Festival participation and the launch of their comprehensive DEIB policy, AboitizPower continues to pave the way for positive change and a brighter future for all.

WEEKLY FEATURE : MVP Group Keeps Lights On During Pandemic